Five general practitioners working in the public sector have filed a judicial protest against the health ministry and the medical association of Malta claiming pay discrimination.

The doctors said that a recent collective agreement signed between the government and medical association puts principal general practitioners and consultants on the same pay-scale.

Yet a choice of two contract options based on different working conditions results in the general practioners being paid less than the consultants if they choose one particular contract.

The protestants, Mario Grixti, Mario Vella, Antonia Mizzi, Marcel Martinelli and Anthony Livori, asked the government and medical association to remedy the "anomalous" and "discriminatory" situation.

Lawyer Ian Spiteri Bailey signed the protest.